Gov. Bill Ritter appointed two American Humane Association representatives — Dr. Patricia Schene, senior fellow, and Karen Jenkins, director of public/private child welfare — to a new panel that will help create a child protection ombudsman program to better protect Colorado children against abuse and neglect.

The working group will advise Colorado Department of Human Services Executive Director Karen Beye as she crafts plans this summer for the new ombudsman program, which was authorized by Senate Bill 10-171.

“American Humane is honored to lend its support to the state and to the governor’s interest in having a child welfare system that meets the needs of families. The fact that two representatives from American Humane were chosen for this panel speaks highly about the appreciation for the cadre of child welfare professionals that we have in our organization,” said Sonia Velazquez, senior vice president of child welfare for American Humane.

American Humane is a national leader in developing programs, policies, training, research and evaluation, and cutting-edge initiatives to prevent and respond to child abuse and neglect. For more information about American Humane’s child welfare programs, visitwww.americanhumane.org/protecting-children.

About American Humane Association

Since 1877, the historic American Humane Association has been at the forefront of every major advancement in protecting children, pets and farm animals from cruelty and abuse and neglect. Today we’re also leading the way in understanding human-animal interaction and its role in society. As the nation’s voice for the protection of children and animals, American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association atwww.americanhumane.org today.

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